II 



BECOMING 
AN AMERICAN 



A Patriotic ScKool Drama, 



By J. R. CIBBINS, 



EDEN. IDAHO. 
1920. 



Iff 



BECOMING 
AN AMERICAN 



A. Patriotic School Drama, 



By J. R. C1BBINS. 



EDEN, IDAHO, 
1920. 

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' 



TMP92-009283 

APR 

©CI.D 54564 



Introduction, 



A problem made plain to Ataericaris by the late 
war, wa c that they had failed to make proper effort 
to Americ inize foreigners. Universiti js, colleges, 
high schools and grades are working at this huge 
task with more or less success. Teachers every- 
where should give this subject earnest study. 

NVith the above ideas in view, the following little 
skit w'nch we will call ''Beco ni v? a 1 Am iriean. M 
was writtm. The author hopes it will awaken pu- 
pils, teachers and parents to a s.mse of duty to a 
foreigner. 

The questions and answers for examination, ex- 
cept the last imoersmation. ring true t) the real 
thing as observed in courts by the author 

The Finn should be dressed in furs, the Pole in 
blue flinnel shirt, striped overalls and red neck- 
kerchief and any costumes may be worn by the 
others to suit th J fancy of impersonators and the 
exigency of the occasion. Russell Arnold should 
have on a soldier's uniform. 

The Sketch may be localized by giving charac- 
ters and places home names, making it much more 
interesting. 



Becoming an American, 

By J. R. GibBins. 

Cast of Characters. 

Russell Arnold, returned from ove r seas, 

Dallas Harper, the clerk. 

Judge Stuart, rather brisk and hurried. 

Hjarus Rantalla. a Finn. 

Gioviano Mallesano, an Italian. 

John Mackielinsky, a Pole. 

i arl Carlson, a Swede. 

Oliver Dwight, an Englishman, 

Friends of the candidates, at least one and as 

many more as room and available material admits 

Stage Properties are at least five chairs, a table 

or office desk, flag", and large ledger, 

[Dallas Harper is seated at table, arranging papers. Enter 
Russell Arnold. ) 

Russell Arnold. Hello! Dallas. 

Dallas. Well! Russell! {Shaking hands.) How glad 
I am to see you again! When did it happen? 

Russeli. Oh, a few weeks since. How are you? 

Dallas. Fine and Dandy. 

Russell. Just' thought I'd look in and see what's 
doing in Court. Big day for the Judge? 

Dallas. No. Just a few Bohunks and Swedes 
trying for citizenship. So few the Judge thought 
he'd hold the session in this ante-room. Here's the 
Judge now. Judge Stuart, allow me to present to 
you, Russell Arnold, just returned from over there 

Judge. (Very briskly.) Glad to know you, Sir. 
(Shaking hands.) Just call in the men, Russell, one at 
a time. Let their friends come. Seat them there. 

(Points to seats. Then speaking to Russell.) Won't you 



have a chair? How are things in Europe? Unsettled 
ourse. 
Russell. Yes, Sir. We hardly even knew jur 
n policy in Russia. 

(Enter Clerk with Finn and friends. ) 

Dallas. Your Honor, this isHjarus Rantalla. 

Judge, Has he his petition? 

Dallas. Yes, Your Honor. Here it is, (Reading.) 
My name is Hjarus Rantalla. My place of residence 
is Troy, Doniphan County, Kansas. Present occu- 
pation, bricklayer. I was born on the 17th day of 
May, 1887 in Finland. I emigrated to the United 
States from Helsingfors on the 3rd day of October 
1907 and arrived at the port of New York on the 
21st day of November. I declared my intention to 
become a citizen of the United States in the Dis- 
trict Court of Doniphan County, Kansas,. June 10, 
1911. I am not married. I owe allegiance to Fin- 
land. I can hardly speak the English language. I 
have resided in the United States since 1907. I have 
never before petitioned for citizenship. (Folds paper.) 

Judge. So you can't speak English well? 

Hjarus. My niece, she read, she write for me. 

Judge. You speak fairly well, and we would like* 
to make a citizen of you, if you prove proper ma- 
terial. Do you believe in polygamy or anarchy? 

Hjarus. Puly— what? 

Judge, Polygamy. 

Hjarus. I no understand. 

Judge. Anarchy? 

Hjarus. I no understand. 

Judge. That settles the matter. You'il havi 
get a book and study up. Return the first Monday 
in April. There is no use in your applying until 

you can understand. (Finn goes out crestfallen and 



-'"-.'-. ) Ca ]j the next> (j ]erkt (ToRusselL) Well. I 
wish the C.erk .would hurry. (Enter Clerk with Italian 
and his friends. ) 

Judge. Have you his petition? 

Dallsa. Yes, Your Honor. This applicant's name 
is Gioviano M^lle^ano his place of residence is Troy 
Kansas, occupation, section hand, Is married and 
has five children, and has never before made appli- 
cation for citizenship in tne United States. 

Judge. Perhaps you had best have this appli- 
nant sit down. I believe he can think better. Do 
you believe in polvgamy or anarchy? 

Gioviano. (Wildly) Yes, Yes, Your Honor. 

Judge. Do you mean to say thit you uphold po- 
lygamy and the red hand? 

Gioviano. (Discovering his error.) No! No! by the 
love of H j aven! No! Yoar Honor! 

Judge. Well, What is the State Legislature and 

how are its members elected? 

Gioviano. Electa, electa. Dey not electa. Dey 
maka — stata — a senata. Dey maka representa- 
teef — Dey maka — 

Judge. What do you. mean, don't they elect? 

Gioviano. Yes! Yes! Dey electa — dey maka — 
they divida — (Wrings his hands.) 
Judge, See here, speak plainly. Well, in general, 
what does the Constitution provide? 

Gioviano. De Constitution provida — h >usa — 
de white housa — de presidenta — 

Judge. When did Kansas become a state? 

Gioviano. It becoma in 1775. 

Judge. Kansas? 

Gioviano. No — No — she didna Lecoma — she 
didna becoma — 

Judge. Well, what did happen in 1775? 



>vian >. Nothing did hapoiri Honor, 

nothing-, Your Honor, 
\ Judge. Where is the capital of the United States? 

Gioviano. Topeka, Your Honor, Topeka. 

•I ulge. This wont do. You get a book and study 
up. You may return to the next session of Court 
in April. 

Gioviano, (Groaning.) All right — you fel — you 
no see me again. Too hard. Too hard. ( He goes out. ) 

His Friend. Your Honor, this man has been 
king fourteen hours a. day. He is a good chap 
but has had no chance to study. 

Judge. Well, if he can't study, there's no use in 
his applying. Clerk, call the next. (To the Friend) 
We!!, go after the fellow, Sae what you can do for 
him. The next, Clerk. (The Italian and his friend 
go out. The Judge sneaking to Russell, says — ) My! How 
this* drags out They are waiting for me in the 
next ward. 

(Dallas returns with a Pole and friends.) 

•I idge. Have you his petition there, Clerk? 

Dallas. Yes, Your Honor. His name is John 
Mackielinsky. His place of residence is Wathena, 
Kansas. He emigrated from Warsaw, Poland. He 
declared his intention t) become a citizen of the 
United States on the third day of December, 1912. 
He speaks the English language and has resided 
inuously in the United States since the 16th day 
of March, 1907. 

All right, John Mackielonsky. What is a county? 

Pole. It is a so — big — square of the state.' (Ex- 
tending his hands in measurement.) 

Judge. How many counties are there in Kansas? 

Pole There are 100 and there are five. 

Judge. One hundred five? 



Pole. Ya. One hundred five. 

Judge. What is Congr 

Pole. Congress ees — so bij. (Extends hands.) 

Judge. We don't measure Congress in sizes. 
What is Congress made up of? 

Pole- Congress is made up of — Yas. 

Judge. Yes! 

Pole. Ya. 

Judge. Now see her °, why do we have Con- 
gress? What is it for? 

Pole. De Senator. 

Judge. You mean the senators atten 1? Wh3 else? 

Pole. Ya—de— senators — Ya —iey coom. 

Judge. Who else. 

Pole. Ya. 

Judge. Why haven't you studied the thing: out? 
You have been up here once before and failed! 

Friend. He's rattled, Your honor. He did bet- 
ter for me coming up on the train. 

Pole. No one me help. Everybody too busy. I 
have moaey — get book. Nobody me teach. No 
night school last year. 

Judge. Well, you'll have to do something about 
it your self. Study up-and come again next term. 

" .ie. I no coom back next time. I coom now. 
You can no send me away. I no go. I want citzen 
paper. I- have dem too. You get out. [Pushes the 

Clerk. Scuffles for paper.) I have dem. 

Judge. (Angrily.) Show this man out of Court. 
We don't want him for a citizen. (The clerk pushes 

the Pole out and he is followed by his friends.) 

Judge. Call the next, CJerk. (The clerk goes out.) 
Russell. Is it true there were no night schools 

last year? 

. Judge. I positive. I have heard said 

* 



t the foreigners have not att< 
many night schools suspended. 

Russell. They do not advertise the night schools 

Eieiently. Dances have more publicity. They 

ertise it once or twice in the want ads and let 

;o at that. (Enter Clerk with Swede.) 

{ Dallas. Here, Your Honor, is Carl Carlson who 
.•petitions for citizsnship. 

Judge. Have you his petition there? 
Dallas. It is here, Sir. 
Judge. Let me hear it in full. 
Dallas. (Reads from paper.) My name is Carl Carl- 
sun. My place of residence is Leona, Kansas. My 
\m is farmer. I emigrated to the United 
es from Stockholm, Sweden on the 17th day of 
July 1903, and arrived in the United States at the 
Port of New York, on August 3, on the Lusatania. 
I declared my intent'on N > 10S423 to become a cit- 
n of the United States on the 21st day of Octo- 
. 1912, at Troy, in the District Court of Doni- 
n county, Kansas. I am married. My wife's 
ne is Christine. She was born in Sweden and 
: lives near Leona. I have two children, Th I- 
. born July 4th. 1915, and Licl.vig, born May 2, 
I. I now owe allegiance to Gustave V of Swe- 
{ am able to speak the English language and 
led in the United States since 1903 and 
;ince 1912. I have never before oetition- 
itizenship. Ole Oleson, Lief Ericsson. 

of the above na 
lesses have I herewith 

ent my to become a citizen of the 

United Stat- 

idge- All right, C irlson. Y 
order. Step tip hei >e if your knowledge is 



sufficient to make you a good citizen. What pow- 
er makes the ordinary laws of the United States? 

Carl- Congress makes the laws, Your Honor. 

Judge. Well, when did Kansas become a state? 

Carl. 1851. 

Judge. 51? 

Carl* No, No, Your Honor. 1861, 

Judge. All right. Name a Senator from Kansas. 

Carl. The Senator is Mr. Capper. 

Judge. What is the highest law in the United 
Stat. 

Carl. The Constitution, Sir. 

Judge. Who is President? 

Carl. President Wilson. 

Judge. Do you believe in polygamy or anarch 

Carl. No, Sir, No, Your Honor, It ban wrong. 

Judge. This man is well qualified. Let him 
register in the book. {He registers.) Let him take 
the oath. 

Dallas. Repeat after me: I hereby declare on 

Carl. I hereby declare on oath 

Dallas, that I absolutely and entirely renoui 
and abjure forever 

Dallas, all allegiance and fidelity to every for- 
eign power 

Carl, all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign 

PQVS 

Dallas, prince, potentate, state or sovereignty 
Carl, prince, potentate, state or sovereignty 
Dallas, and particularly to Gustuve V of Sweden 
Carl, and particularly to Gustave V of Sweden 
Dallas of whom I have heretofore been a sub- 

Carl. of whom I have heretofore been a sub- 



ject; 

Dallas, that I will support and defend the Con- 
stitution and the laws of the United States of Am- 
erica 

Carl, that I will support and defend the Con- 
stitution and the laws of the United States of Am- 
erica 

Dallas, against all enemies, foreign and domes- 
tic 

Carl, against all enemies, foreign and domestic 

Dallas, and that I will bear true faith and alle- 
giance to the same 

Carl, and that I will bear true faith and allegi- 
ance to the same, 

Dallas. So help me God. 

Carl. So help me God. 

Judge. You are now a citizen of the United 
States and may get your second papers from the 

clerk. (Swede receives papers and goes out.) Well, I 

must be off. 

Russell. Just a minute, Judge. Doesn't it seem 
to you that this is all wrong? Do you think we've 
tried hard enough to make these men citizens? 

Judge. I don't believe we have. But what can 
I do? My duty is to see whether they are prepar- 
ed or not If they are not, I can't admit them. 
That's the law. 

Russell Dallas, why didn't you shake hands 
with that intelligent young Swede, and tell him 
you were glad that he was an American citizen. 
Don't you want him to be a loyal citizen? 

Dallas. Yes. Of course I do. I didn't suppose 
it made any difference. 

Russell. Indeed, it makes a difference. It is up 
to all of us to make these fellow right glad that 



they are Americans. Since 1 am back, I iove the 
stars and stripes better than ever. I was willing 
to give up life for my country, and now I want to 
live for it and to give the other fellows a chance 
to belong to it. The crying need, Russell, is effi- 
cient night schools with teachers who are capable 
and willing. Visit them right in their homes and 
convince them for a surety that we are in earnest 
about them and want them for American citizens. 
And when they attain citizenship, welcome them 
right royally with music, cheers and celebrations. 
Let's hunt up this Swede and give him the glad hand 

( Young Englishman and friends rush in. ) 

Friend. Your Honor, is it too late to examine 
this man? 

Judge. Well, I am needed badly at the Court in 
equity, but I want always to make citizens of those 
prepared. Has he his petition? 

Friend. Yes, Your Honor. Here it is. (Hands 

it to the clerk. ) 

Judge. Read it. 

Dallas. (Reading.) My name is Oliver Dwight. 
I emigrated to the United States from near Liver- 
pool, England, August, 1912, and arrived at New 
York, September 3, 1912. My place of residence 
is Troy, Kansas. Present occupation, workman in 
Clark Bros. Mill. I declared my intention to be- 
come a citizen of the United States on my arrival 
at Troy. The war came on and I enlisted in the 
United States army but was rejected in the exam- 
ination. My declaration is number 107462, regis- 
tered in the District Court of Doniphan County, 
Kansas. I am single. I now owe allegience to 
George V of England. I speak English fluently, 
having attended the schools of my native land. I 

10 



have resided in the United States continuously 
since 1912. I have never heretofore petitioned for 
United States citizenship. Wid Clark, Walter B. 
Montgomery, John Norman, Witnesses, each of 
whom has known me for two years. I herewith 
present my intentions to become a United States 
Citizen. 

Judge. Very good, Oliver Dwight. Let us now 
see if your knowledge is sufficient. Repeat the 
Preamble to the Constitution. 

Oliver. We, the people of the United States, in 
order to form a more perfect Union, establish jus- 
tice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the 
common defense, promote the general welfare and 
secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and 
our posterity, do ordain and establish this Consti- 
tution for the United States of America. 

Judge. (Surprised that he answers correctly), Fine ! 

Now name the eighteen powers of Congress. 

Oliver. La-ba-ra, Es-ca-pa, Es-pa-ca, Da-da-ra, 
Pa-ma-pa, Pa-ex-ma— 

Judge. Here ! What's that ? 

Oliver. Oh, you see that's what my teacher 
gave me to help remember them. If you permit, 
I should like to write it out. 

Judge. Write it. I want to see it anyway. 

Oliver. ( Writes it ana hands to Judge) . 

Judge. Well, hows that going to help? 

Oliver. Why, you see the "1" in "la" is for 
lay and collect taxes; the 'V is for borrow money. 

Judge. Well, let's have them. 

Oliver. Lay and collect taxes: borrow money; 
regulate commerce; establish naturalization laws; 
coin money; punish counterfeiters; establish post- 
offices and post- roads; promote science; constitute 



inferior courts; deline and punish piracies; declare 
war; raise armies; provide a navy: make rules for 
governing armed forces: provide for calling forth 
the militia; provide for organizing the militia; 
exercise legislation in national capital site and 
make laws necessary to execute the foregoing 
powers. 

Judge. Well, since you have dona so nicely with 
this question, I will depart a little from regular 
custom. Possibly you can name the Presidents of 
the United States in order. 

Oliver. Oh yes. Wash, Ad, Jeff, Mad, Mon, 
Ad, Jack, Van, Har, Ty, Polk, Tay, Fill, Pierce. 
Buck, Line, John, Grant, Hay, Gar, Ar, Cleve, 
Har, Cleve, Mack, Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson. 

Judge. See here, D wight. When I ask you for 
the names of the Presidents, do not recite a poem 
like that to me. 

Oliver. Well, you see that helps me remember. 
Since you were so kind before, I'll just write this 

OUt tOO. (He writes). 

Judge. Ail right. I would like to see it myself. 

Oliver. {Hands it to Judge). 

Judge, (Looking at it). Oh, I see ! That's a key 
to the names. (Hands it back to Oliver). Well, let's 
have them. 

Oliver. Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madi- 
son, Monroe, Adams, Jackson, VanBuren, Harri- 
son, Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Bu- 
chanan, Lincoln, Johnson, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, 
Arthur, Cleveland, Harrison, Cleveland, McKinley 
Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson. 

Judge. Well, I'm to examine you on Govern- 
ment—not history. Just what, in general, does 
the Constitution provide? 



Oliver- For the government of the United States 

Judge. How many branches. 

Oliver. Three. Legislative, or law-making; 
Executive, or law- enforcing; Judicial, or law-ex- 
plaining. 

Judge. Where does Congress meet? 

Oliver Washington, D. C. 

Judge. Name its branches. 

Oliver. The Senate and the House of Repre- 
sentatives 

Judge. Where does the State Legislature meet? 

Oliver. Topeka. 

Judge. Your answer to next question will not 
fail you in your examination, : — Who was your 
teacher? 

Oliver. Charley Butts. 

Judge. Well, now I am going to give you the 
supreme test. If the United States government 
should declare war on Great Britain and call for 
volunteers for its armies, what would you do? 

Oliver. I would enlist in the United States 
Army, for while I loved England when her son, 
yet, when I came to your country it was with the 
full intention of loving her and living and dying 
for her, if necessary. I hold that flag as dear as 
any of your native sons. 

Judge (earnestly), Register this man, Mr. Clerk. 
(Oliver is registered.) Let him subscribe to the oath. 
You need not have him repeat it. He knows it 

nOW as well as you Or I. (Oliver subscribes to the- oath) 

You may now receive your second papers. (Oliver 

receives papers from the Clerk). Allow me to congrat- 
ulate you, Mr. Dwight, on your splendid examin- 
ation and to shake hands with a new citizen of the 
United States. Arnold, this man did well because 



he understands the English language thoroughly 
and correctly. What these foreigners need is more 

English Language. Here, (enthusiastically, He write* 
a check from a check book he takes from his pocket) . Here 

is my check, signed in blank. Fill it for a thous- 
and dollars, if necessary. You and Dallas here 
rent a room, hire teachers, run a night school and 
hunt up these poor fellows who have failed and 
teach them to become good Americans. Well, I 
must be off about that land case. (Leaves in his 

characteristic brisk manner. Arnold and Harper look smil- 
ingly and pleasedly at each other. ) 

[Curtain^ 

NOTE.— This Play is in two editions. This 
one is the first and shorter. The other in- 
cludes "An Irish Family"— husband, wife 
and children. Very funny. Also another 
lady character and a wedding. Requires 
about one hour and fifteen minutes. 




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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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